Star Wars Banking On Turning TV Show Into A Movie, Is It The Right Choice?

Officially dubbed The Mandalorian & Grogu, the Jon Favreau-helmed movie has been given close to $22 million in tax credits by the state of California where it will be filmed. Then there are the folks responsible for making the magic come to life with the production hiring around 500 crew members for the behind-the-scenes work. In front of the camera, 54 main cast members will take the limelight and they’ll be joined by 3,500 extras over the course of 92 days of filming. 

For those trying to do the math in their heads, this means that The Mandalorian movie is expected to have cameras rolling for four-ish months. Comparing it to how the TV series shoots, most seasons have been done in half a year, meaning the monumental task of the film’s production will take just two months less. When all is said and done, the studio is prepared to drop well over $166 million on its spin-off.

As for where the cast, crew, and extras will call home for those nearly 100 days of filming, fans of George Lucas’ original trilogy may have some alarm bells going off as The Mandalorian movie will be getting to work in California. California is a gigantic state with plenty of desert to bring the Star Wars universe to life, should the film — like many Star Wars films before it — take the heroes to planets like Tattooine, Jakku, or worlds with similar environments.

With our only information about The Mandalorian movie being that it will follow Din Djarin and Grogu, the use of California as a set piece paints a broader picture of what type of scenery we could expect. While Jon Favreau may not be pointing his cameras at Death Valley, there are still plenty of other places in the state that give otherworldly vibes like Vasquez Rocks and the Alabama Hills where other favorite sci-fi flicks like Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and Tremors, have filmed, respectively. Essentially, the opportunities are endless for the backdrop of The Mandalorian & Grogu now that it’s found its home in California.

For Star Wars fans, all eyes are fixed on The Mandalorian movie as it will be a make-or-break move for the franchise. Aside from other irons in the fire like Taika Waititi’s supposed dip into the galaxy far, far away, The Mandalorian & Grogu is our only clear shot at seeing our favorite cosmic characters back on the big screen anytime soon. Set for a 2026 release, no other details are known about the film at this time but with a budget like that, we’re expecting some greatness from Favreau’s tale of two buddies.